Girth with removable cinching strap

ABSTRACT

A harness assembly, specifically an elastic webbed girth, is provided at one end with a passageway for removably receiving a cinch strap. An elongated member, such as a metal dowel, is fitted transverse one end of the cinch strap. When the cinch strap is threaded through the passageway it is captured and removably retained within the girth by means of the dowel. When cleaning or servicing is required, the webs of the girth are simply separated and the cinch strap simply pulled from between the webs and the passageway.

United States Patent 11 1 Leiderman Apr. 30, 1974 [54] GIRTH WITH REMOVABLE CINCHING 1,822,912 9/1931 Swanstrom 24/201 A STRAP 584,949 6/1897 Mathews 54/23 1,678,373 7/1928 Wiesenfeld 54 23 Inventor: Abraham Thomas Leiderman, 206

E. Hillsdale Blvd., San Mateo, Calif. 94403 [22] Filed: Sept. 22, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 291,245

[52] US. Cl. 54/23, 24/201 A [51] Int. Cl. B68c 1/00 [58] Field of Search 54/23; 2/336, 338; 24/201 A, 72.7

[56] 7 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 613,902 11/1898 Grace 24/201 A 601,745 4/1898 Brewington 24/20] A Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner.1. Q. Lever ABSTRACT A harness assembly, specifically an elastic webbed girth, is provided at one end with a passageway for removably receiving a cinch strap. An elongated member, such as a metal dowel, is fitted transverse one end of the cinch strap. When the cinch strap is threaded through the passageway it is captured and removably retained within the girth by means of the dowel. When cleaning or servicing is required, the webs of the girth are simply separated and the cinch strap simply pulled from between the webs and the passageway.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED PR 30 19M FIG.2

FIG. 3

FIG.4'

FIG.5 gi

GIRTH WITH REMOVABLE CINCHING STRAP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Harness assemblies and in particular girths are used to encircle an animals body for securing a load or saddle upon its back.

In practice, it is common, after a race or workout, to remove the girth and place it in water, a solvent, or other cleansing solution for cleaning. However, due to the material and structural characteristics of cinch straps, as distinguished from thee girth, the cinch straps are found, to be subject to premature deterioration, becoming stiff and brittle and cracking while the girth remains in serviceable condition.

Heretofore, conventional cinch straps have been fixedly attached to girths as by sewing or riveting. Reconstruction or replacement of the girth and cinch strap due to premature failure of the latter is as a result time consuming and expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To avoid the time and expense of repairing or replacing conventionalharness assemblies, a principle object of the present invention is an improved harness assembly in general and in particular a girth with a removable cinch strap.

A feature of the present invention is an elongated dowel fitted transverse on one end of an otherwise conventional cinch strap. An otherwise conventional girth is provided with a passageway at one end for removably receiving the cinch strap. The dowel prevents the cinch strap from being pulled entirely through the passageway. Prior to cleaning, the cinch strap is simply pulled from the girth and is therefore not subjected to the deteriorating effects of the cleaning process.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent in the following detailed description ofthe accompanying drawing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a foreshortened plan view of the harness assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a foreshortened plan view of the cinch strap of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a cinch strap retaining dowel in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, there is provided a novel harness assembly 1 comprising a girth 2 and a removable cinch strap 3.

Girth 2 comprises a pair of overlying elastic webs 4 and 5. A buckle 6 is attached to a first end of girth 2 by means of a folded reinforcing member 7 having a pair of facing sides 8 and 9. Member 7, typically made of rubberized leather, is passed through buckle 6 and sides 8 and 9 attached to webs 4 and 5 as by threads 10.

At a second end of girth 2, there is provided a second reinforcing member 20. Member 20, alsotypically made of rubberized leather, comprises a piar of pieces 21 and 22. Pieces 21 and 22 are attached to and secure the second end of girth 2 by means of two sets of threads 23 and 24. Threads 23 and 24 are restricted to the edge portions of members 20 and webs 4 and 5 so as to form a centrally located passageway 25, therebetween. The width of passageway 25 is chosen large enough to freely receive cinch strap 3 as described hereinafter in more detail. It is understood, however, that various sized passageways may be accomodated and that means other than sewing may be used to secure members 7 and 20. Also the material from which girth 2 and cinch strap 3 are made is not critical to the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, cinch strap 3 comprises an elongated member- 30 provided at a first end with one or more apertures 31 suitable for engaging a buckle, such as buckle 6. Member 30 is provided at a second end with an elongated dowel 32. Dowel 32 extends transverse member 30 and is secured to member 30 by a smaller strap 33 as by rivets 34. Dowel 32 and strap 33 are typically made of metal for mechanical strength. Dowel 32 is typically of uniform cross-section but may be provided, as shown in FIG. 5, with a recessed shouldered portion 35 within which strap 33 is seated. As so constructed, dowel 32 is less likely to slip from beneath strap 33 should strap 33 loosen from member 30 in use. In either case, dowel 32 is of a length greater than the width of passageway 25 for removably securing cinch strap 3 in passageway 25.

In use, webs 4 and 5 are separated as shown in FIG. 2 thereby exposing the upstream end of passageway 25. The apertured end of cinch strap 3 is then threaded through passageway 25 until dowel 32 comes to rest across and bridges the upstream end of passageway 25 inexpensively removed.

It will be appreciated, especially by those who have experienced unexpected cinch strap failures, that an otherwise conventional strap fitted at one end with a conventional buckle may be used in an emergency in place of cinch strap 3 of the present invention. It is understood, however, that in such a case the buckle would have to have a breadth of sufficient size to bridge passageway 25. Alternatively, an elongated member may be inserted behind the buckle and would serve to perform the function of dowel 32 until repair or replacement is possible.

It is also understood that these and other modifications will occur to those skilled in the'art without departing from the scope of the present invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed isi l. A harness assembly comprising a first strap member;

a first means forming a passageway at one end of said first strap member for receiving a second strap member,

said first strap member including a pair of overlying elastic webs secured at one end by said first means and having a free central portion permitting access therebetween;

a second strap member sized to fit in said passageway; and

a second means at one end of and extending transverse said second strap member for removably conpling said second strap member to said first strap member when said second strap member is threaded into said passageway in said first strap member. v

2. A harness assembly according to claim 1 wherein said second means comprises:

an elongated pin having a length somewhat greater than the width of said passageway; and means for fixedly attaching said pin to said second strap memher.

3. A harness assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first means comprises:

a first member and a second member attached on opposite sides of said pair of elastic webs, said attachment being restricted to the edge portions of said first and said second members and said webs for forming said passageway between said webs and said members in a central portion thereof.

4. A harness assembly according to claim 3 further comprising a buckle attached to an end of said webs opposite said passageway and an aperture provided in an end of said second strap opposite said pin.

5. A harness assembly comprising: an elastic girth strap; I a relatively inelastic cinch strap; and a means for removably coupling said cinch strap to said girth strap, said means for removably coupling said cinch strap to said girth strap including a first means attached to one end of said girth strap and having a passageway therein for receiving said cinch strap; and

a second means attached to one end of cinch strap for bridging said passageway when said cinch strap is threaded through said passageway and wherein said second means comprises. an elongated member extending transverse said cinch strap and has a length somewhat greater than the width of the upstream end of said passageway; and further wherein said elastic girth strap comprises a pair of overlying elastic webs and said cinch strap is removably inserted in said passageway between said webs. 

1. A harness assembly comprising: a first strap member; a first means forming a passageway at one end of said first strap member for receiving a second strap member, said first strap member including a pair of overlying elastic webs secured at one end by said first means and having a free central portion permitting access therebetween; a second strap member sized to fit in said passageway; and a second means at one end of and extending transverse said second strap member for removably coupling said second strap member to said first strap member when said second strap member is threaded into said passageway in said first strap member.
 2. A harness assembly according to claim 1 wherein said second means comprises: an elongated pin having a length somewhat greater than the width of said passageway; and means for fixedly attaching said pin to said second strap member.
 3. A harness assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first means comprises: a first member and a second member attached on opposite sides of said pair of elastic webs, said attachment being restricted to the edge portions of said first and said second members and said webs for forming said passageway between said webs and said members in a central portion thereof.
 4. A harness asSembly according to claim 3 further comprising a buckle attached to an end of said webs opposite said passageway and an aperture provided in an end of said second strap opposite said pin.
 5. A harness assembly comprising: an elastic girth strap; a relatively inelastic cinch strap; and a means for removably coupling said cinch strap to said girth strap, said means for removably coupling said cinch strap to said girth strap including a first means attached to one end of said girth strap and having a passageway therein for receiving said cinch strap; and a second means attached to one end of cinch strap for bridging said passageway when said cinch strap is threaded through said passageway and wherein said second means comprises an elongated member extending transverse said cinch strap and has a length somewhat greater than the width of the upstream end of said passageway; and further wherein said elastic girth strap comprises a pair of overlying elastic webs and said cinch strap is removably inserted in said passageway between said webs. 